With the launch of the J12, and especially its Tourbillon version, which last year surprised the watch milieu with its boldness and classicism, followed by the Superleggera, which again testifies to the brand’s serious attention to watchmaking, Chanel has decisively and definitively acquired its letters of nobility in the art of timekeeping.
Yet, the House has definitely not lost touch with the spirit of its origins: Haute Couture. It is all about exclusivity. A client of haute couture simply could not be seen wearing something that someone else has. So, in this vein, Chanel has decided, for some of its models, to move from exclusivity to ultra exclusivity.
This is exactly what has happened with the new model of the J12 Haute Joaillerie timepiece, the first of its kind to combine ceramic, 18 carat white gold, and diamonds – or rather, we should say, very many diamonds, since there are 597 baguette cut diamonds, for a total of more than 32 carats, decorating the case and its sides, as well as the bezel, dial, bracelet and the crown, which is also set with a faceted diamond. About 1,400 hours of cutting were required only to facet the diamonds, while a year of work was necessary to finish these pieces.
To add even more value to the cut and sparkle of the diamonds, black ceramic was shaped into a baguette form on the bracelet and bezel, as well as for the 12 hour markers on the dial.
Exclusive! You could certainly say that. Only five copies are being made.
Source: April - May 2006 Magazine Issue
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